Rios 1

Angel Rios

J. Snyder

Capstone Rough Draft 2023

20 March 2023

Computing a New Future

INTRO Growing up, I have always had big dreams of breaking the cycle of working

blue-collar factory jobs. Although I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, what I did know is

that education is my way out of the cycle. I knew that whatever career I wanted to go into it had

to be something that appealed to me and I could be successful. I started with a career I thought

was for me and was sure that it was what I wanted to go into. After reconsideration and many

changes between career professions, I realized with time that technology is something that

interests me. I want to make sure that I pursue a career that interests me and makes enough

money to be sustainable. And who knows, even though I think I found my ideal career it could

always change in the future.

BIO My parents came from Durango, Mexico immigrating to the US in search of a better

future. Both of my parents descend from a peasant lifestyle of living off harvests of corn, beans,

and potatoes. After my parents met in Michigan my sister was born in 2003, and two years later I

was born at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am a middle child between two

sisters, the older one is two years older, and my younger sister is 9 years younger. Spanish is my

first language and I later learned English in Pre-school at Godfrey-lee. Since then I have stayed

with the Godfrey district until my senior year of high school. Ever since I was little I’ve loved

video games and it’s the reason I gained an interest in technology. This interest is the reason I
 Rios 2

decided to participate in the E-sports team for Lee High School. I am also a part of Legendary

Leaders and Student Council. After the summer of my junior year I participated in the Promesa

program with Ferris State. In my senior year, I also decided to do dual enrollment with GRCC

and take college courses while in high school.

FUTURE GOALS Beginning with the closest goal of graduating from Lee High School

is the top priority before worrying about anything else. Once I graduate high school and I turn 18

I am going to apply to best buy and work over the summer. Once I decide what college I will be

attending this fall I will attend and apply for work-study jobs. After revising costs for attendance

to Davenport I will either attend Davenport for a four-year computer information technology

degree or Ferris for their four-year cybersecurity degree. Not to mention, I will also have to

maintain good grades in college in order to keep the scholarships and grants. While I am taking

my courses I will make sure to apply for possible internships at different companies securing a

job straight out of college. After making sure to secure a job after graduation I will receive my

degree and proceed with paying off the remaining student loans. I will try and do this despite

Hispanics being discriminated against in the US work field. This is shown when Routledge says,

“Latinos are a well-established minority in the US, yet they have increasingly become the target

of prejudice and stigmatization, especially because they are often linked to undocumented

immigration” (Ruta and Fernández-Reino)

ROUTE/PATH Looking into the future, the plan starts off with graduating from high

school. After revising all my options and seeing the amount it would cost I would Possibly attend

GRCC for two years and complete core classes. If not I would attend Davenport University for a

Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. While I am getting my degree I would

apply and get a work-study job that benefits me and allows me to get work done and gain money
 Rios 3

while completing school work. If all things go well I will graduate from Davenport with my

degree in Computer Information Systems. After graduating I will most likely move back with my

parents because financially I will be recovering after college. The next step after moving back I

will be working my job that I got with my degree and pay off any remaining student loan. At this

time I will have a job in my profession since employment is only growing. This is shown when

the US Bureau of Labor Statistics says, “Overall employment in computer and information

technology occupations is projected to grow 15 percent from 2021 to 2031” (Computer and

Information). Once I’m free from any debt I will find a house I like and make a down payment

and live in it. At this point hopefully I would have found my significant other and I will be ready

to settle down and have a family. Eventually, I will be able to retire off my wealth and live off

only the interest of my wealth and passive income from separate sources.

CONCLUSION After looking back at the last 13 years of my life and all the effort I put

into education I have changed and reformed into a different person. Living with my family and

sharing a majority of my day for several years with other students made me feel more connected

and shaped me into the person I am today. Thanks to my parents and their efforts I was able to

give school my all and pursue higher education. Even though nothing is guaranteed in life, there

are things you can do to prepare yourself for success and give yourself a better chance of living

the life you want to.

 Rios 4

Works Cited

Computer and Information Technology Occupations : Occupational Outlook Handbook: :

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 8 Sept. 2022,

www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm.

Yemane, Ruta, and Mariña Fernández-Reino. “Latinos in the United States and in Spain: The

Impact of Ethnic Group Stereotypes on Labour Market Outcomes.” Journal of Ethnic &

Migration Studies, vol. 47, no. 6, Apr. 2021, pp. 1240–60. EBSCOhost,

https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2019.1622806.